Chris Cornell, who died at age 52 in Detroit on May 17 while on tour with Soundgarden, was one of the most beloved figures not just in rock, but all of music.

I have covered music for more than two decades, which in that time sadly encompasses far too many deaths. And few have prompted the waves of sadness and shock that have taken place following Cornell's passing.

Audioslave - Like a Stone (Official Video)

And those are just the musical tributes.

Social media flooded with memories and tributes from friends and fans in disbelief. Everyone from Jimmy Page and Joe Perry to Anderson .Paak and Chuck D paid their respects. Perhaps Elton John summed it up best: "Shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Chris Cornell. A great singer, songwriter and the loveliest man."

It was the last two words that stuck out for so many.

Peter Katsis, who manages Jane's Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins and more, worked with Cornell during both his solo days and his tenure in Audioslave. Katsis says that Cornell's modesty is a big part of what made him so beloved in the industry.

"I think the massive love and respect that others who knew him had of him came from how unpretentious he was, and how devoted he was to his craft," Katsis says. "You felt like he was never interested in being a rock star. Or that was never that important to him. He concentrated on singing the best he could, and on feeling every note from deep inside. That's what made us feel every note, and what made us love him. He didn't have to concentrate on being a rock star, he just was one."

I interviewed one of Cornell's Seattle peers, Jerry Cantrell, several years ago and he echoed that sentiment. "Chris Cornell, that guy always had class. I've always respected everything that he's done. That was a hero of mine when we were starting out. I've always looked up to him as a writer."

With an impressive body of work spanning Soundgarden, Audioslave and his solo career, Cornell was arguably a singular voice of his generation, though that thought was uncomfortable to someone of his humility.

"I'm sure the best singer in the world, nobody knows who that is. He's somewhere, or she's somewhere, and they're out there," Cornell told me when I interviewed him in 2008. "I get blown away by singers all the time and almost feel embarrassed that I would be referred to or regarded as one of the best singers in rock ever."

May 24, 2017 – 5:42 pm

Soundgarden - Burden In My Hand

But Cornell's vocals, which Katsis described as "looking effortless," were indeed praised by musicians from all walks of life. When I spoke with guitar legend Eddie Van Halen a decade ago and asked him what singers he would want to work with if he ever did a solo album, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Oh god, I love Chris Cornell."

Alice Cooper, a rock icon in his own right, was excited to work with Cornell on his 1994 album, The Last Temptation. "He wrote two songs for me and they just fit right on the album. I never do that, I actually never go outside of myself to write songs, but I really liked his stuff and I said, 'I really want to work with you.'"

The list of Cornell's admirers goes on.

Dave Gahan, lead singer of Depeche Mode, once told me, "Chris' music has been a big influence on me, certainly his voice. The guy can sing."

The late Ronnie James Dio, widely regarded as one of the best voices in metal history, once told me, "I love Chris Cornell."

Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas was more colorful with his description: "I think Cornell is f***ing amazing."

May 24, 2017 – 5:44 pm

Chris Cornell - Preaching The End Of The World

For Cornell, the respect he received from his idols and peers was something he took immense pride in. Over the course of multiple interviews, I spoke to Cornell about having Johnny Cash cover Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage," from 1991's Badmotorfinger.

"It made a difference to me in my life when Johnny Cash did a song that I wrote," he said. "That changed my life."

Cornell leaves a heavy legacy for a new generation of musicians who follow in his footsteps. Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds is a huge fan. "There is probably not a month that goes by, when you're in the alternative world, where somebody isn't talking about Chris in some way, especially from a vocal standpoint," says Reynolds.

But Reynolds also admired Cornell greatly for his philanthropy. "It really has been astounding to me the level of humanitarian efforts he and his wife made," Reynolds told Variety.

Cornell and his wife, Vicky, established the Chris & Vicky Cornell Foundation in 2012, to "protect the most vulnerable children." I spoke with Cornell about philanthropy in 2007 when he performed at fashion designer John Varvatos' annual benefit for the Stuart House, a program serving the special needs of sexually abused children and their families. The values of family and making a difference in the community were taking on an increased importance in the two-time GRAMMY winner's life.

"As I'm getting older and I have children and my life is definitely settling down more, I'm really about family," said Cornell.

"When I'm not in the studio making records … I'm at home with my wife and my kids. To be able to get involved in something like this is great. It's great to be around people who are doing something to help less fortunate people and people who are in tough circumstances. I myself, I've been in different situations throughout my life … so it's great to be able to be there and try and help someone else."

What was is your favorite Chris Cornell song? Listen to a playlist of ours below

Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell dies

Chris Cornell, best known as the powerful-voiced lead singer for Soundgarden, died following a tour stop in Detroit on May 17. According to multiple news reports, Cornell died by suicide. He was 52 years old.

Along with Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam, Soundgarden defined the Seattle alternative rock sound. The Seattle native Cornell formed Soundgarden in the Emerald City in 1984. They released their debut album, Ultramega OK, in 1988, followed by Louder Than Love, in 1989.

In 1991, just as the Seattle scene was enveloping the mainstream, Cornell joined with Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, among others, in Temple Of The Dog. Their self-titled album, which spawned radio staples such as "Hunger Strike" and "Say Hello To Heaven," is heralded as an alt-rock classic.

Soundgarden hit their stride in 1994 with their No. 1 hit album Superunknown. The blockbuster album spawned Soundgarden's first two career GRAMMY wins: Best Hard Rock Performance for "Black Hole Sun" and Best Metal Performance for "Spoonman."

Their follow-up, 1996's Down On The Upside, charted at No. 2 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Soundgarden disbanded in 1997 but regrouped in 2010. Since then, Cornell has been touring regularly with the band, including tour dates as recent as a stop in Detroit on May 17.

In 2001 Cornell fronted the alt-rock supergroup Audioslave, along with Rage Against The Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk. The group released three albums, including 2003's Audioslave, which earned the group one of their three GRAMMY nominations.

Cornell also released five solo albums, including the Top 20 albums Euphoria Morning (1999), Carry On (2007), Scream (2009), and mostly recently, Higher Truth (2015). Among his 14 GRAMMY nominations, Cornell earned a 1999 solo GRAMMY nomination for the track "Can't Change Me" for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. The multitalented singer/songwriter also penned the GRAMMY-nominated track "You Know My Name" for the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale.

A recovering addict, Cornell was honored with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award in 2007 at the 3rd annual MusiCares MAP Fund event in recognition for his dedication and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund and his devotion to helping other addicts with the recovery process.

"Chris Cornell was one of the influential originators of the 1990s Seattle grunge scene," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "Chris' dynamic stage presence and impressive vocal range made him a true rock-and-roll icon. … Chris' extraordinary talent will forever live on and inspire fellow musicians and fans worldwide."

On May 17, 2017 Cornell's death at age 52 in Detroit shook music lovers everywhere. Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow said, "Chris' extraordinary talent will forever live on and inspire fellow musicians and fans worldwide." Tonight's tribute lineup is a case in point.

Vicky Cornell, the widow of late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, visited Washington D.C. on Feb. 25 to testify before the Congressional Bipartisan Heroin And Opioid Task Force on the opioid crisis. She advocated for better addiction training for health care professionals in the face of the growing epidemic, underscoring that her husband's death "was not inevitable."

"Chris had a brain disease and a doctor who, unfortunately, like many, was not properly trained or educated on addiction," Cornell told the task force, according to People. "We must integrate addiction treatment into our health care system—no more false narratives about the need to hit rock bottom, no more secret societies, no more shame—we must educate health care providers on how to treat addiction and best support recovery."

The rock icon was found dead by suicide in his hotel room in Detroit on May 17, 2017 following a Soundgarden concert. The toxicology report revealed prescription medications in his system, including Ativan, a benzodiazepine he was prescribed as a sleep aid, although the medical examiner said these drugs did not directly "contribute to the cause of death."

Vicky believes that her husband would still be here today if he had been treated by a doctor better educated in addiction, which he had struggled with for years before going sober.

"He didn't want to die. If he was of sound mind, I know he wouldn't have done this… Addiction is a disease. That disease can take over you and has full power," she told People in 2017.

Feb 13, 2019 – 4:16 pm

Toni & Christopher Cornell | 2019 GRAMMYs

Earlier this month, Cornell posthumously won Best Rock Performance for "When Bad Does Good" at the 61st GRAMMY Awards." His children Toni and Christopher accepted the GRAMMYon his behalfin a tear-jerking moment.

"I never thought we would be standing here without my dad," Cornell's son Christopher said during their acceptance speech. "I'm sure he would be proud and honored. He was a rock icon, the Godfather of grunge and a creator of a movement. While he touched the hearts of millions, the most important thing he is known for, for us, is for being the greatest father and our hero."

Chris Cornell: Public Vigil To Mark First Anniversary Of Soundgarden Frontman's Passing

Vicky Cornell, the widow of Chris Cornell, has announced a public vigil on Friday, May 18 to mark the one-year anniversary of the passing of her late husband.

The public vigil will take place at the Hollywood Forever Cemeteryin Los Angeles at 7 p.m. PT, offering fans an opportunity to attend and pay tribute to the GRAMMY winner. Vicky Cornell shared a letter on social media, taking an opportunity to also invite the "millions of fans" to remember the "Black Hole Sun" singer no matter where they are.

"It is with great emotion I reach out to all of you as the one year anniversary of my husband's passing approaches," wrote Cornell. "Chris was loved, so much, by so many. The children and I are so grateful to you all for being by our sides throughout all of this. Your love has created a close-knit community; more like a family; to grieve with, to provide support, and to help us heal. We could not have gotten through these last twelve months without you.

"We want to open this up to you, our extended family, and invite you to join us on this day of prayer and remembrance to pay our respects together. As we know, there are millions of fans and not everyone can physically be there, we would be honored if you share posts and videos of how Chris's music has touched you. We can feel your love no matter how far. Light a candle, say a prayer, speak his name… Loud Love."

A year later, the Seattle music community is keeping Chris Cornell close to their hearts. Cornell was among the friends namechecked by Stevie Ray Vaughan Award recipient Mike McCready during his remarks at the 2018 MusiCares Concert For Recovery. Additionally, a guitar strap that belonged to Cornell helped raise money during a silent auction, with proceeds benefitting MusiCares' addiction recovery services.

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